on our way back to the hotel from our run, we drive down lombardo street. while the downward journey on the "crookedest street in the world" is just as we expect (curvy and like all the pictures), we are most impressed, audibly i must say, by the incline you must gun your way UP before reaching the crooked part and going back down. it is absolutely the steepest hill i have ever gone up in a vehicle that isn't operated by cables. i seriously think we may slide backward to our death if we are forced to stop on this 100 degree angle. the horizon actually disappears and the roller coaster excitement type lump in the throat persists until we make it to the top. it is amazing that people live and park on this street every day! needless to say, we do not perish and make it to our hotel for a shower, breakfast and final check out.
friday, october 21, 10:00 am
we head off to the fisherman's wharf, put money in a pay station, and begin our exploration. we spend two hours wandering around some truly fascinating places. these include the pier, ghirardelli square, the original ghirardelli chocolate shop, a cupcake shop featured on cupcake wars, and a magnificent warehouse filled with hundreds upon hundreds of working, antique coin-operated machines. now this is my kind of arcade. it is like a museum chronicling the history of every kind of instant entertainment used through the last century and a half. and it is free. like finding a gold mine. after we have our fill, we decide it's time to head out of the city and start to stroll the last few blocks to the car. en route, we notice a homeless bum sitting on the curb and holding several bush branches in front of his body. this picture alone is somewhat intriguing, but the riddle is solved when he suddenly parts the bushes and yells at the nearest oncoming tourist. she is so startled that she screams and then wild laughter ensues from all around. it is hilarious. maybe not for the tourist, but we are fortunate to have been on the backside of the prank and enjoy catching several more victims before calling it a day. seriously...google it :)
friday, october 21, 2:30 pmwe are hungry. we have just driven about an hour north to novato and checked in to our next hotel. it is an inn with a lovely, cottage-feel room and picturesque grounds. we drop our bags and head 5 minutes back south to a strip center i know to have restaurants. each eatery in the connected buildings appears to have a higher quality vibe, and we start to feel the more posh side of california coming out. we decide on a little italian place. it turns out to be a wine bar. they literally have spigots with a small variety of wines that you can prepay for and sample by the glass. we are, by no means, wine connoisseurs, so we order an artisanal pizza and a cheap bottle of white wine. being that we are the only people in the restuarant for so late a lunch, the owner opens our bottle and then talks to us at length about the history and happenings of this charming find. it is a lunch miles away from our saturn cafe dine. i only wish i could take this place home with me. we even mull over the idea of returning for dinner, but decide to test the local wineries first before making a final decision.
friday, october 21, 4:00 pm
we drive a few miles out of town and discover wine country. we don't really drink much, but instead soak up the gorgeous scenery and samples of fresh olive oil. it is as close to tuscan tastes and sights as i can get without making the trip back to italy. it is a pleasantly calm and satisfying afternoon. we spend the rest of the evening enjoying an equally calm dinner out, watching the the world series game and relaxing in our room.
saturday, october 22, 2:00 pm
my cousin is getting married in a beautiful state park near the mountains. his nuptials are the inspiration behind this entire trip. and today is the day. and it's raining. but not even a tornado could dampen the spirits of this bride and groom. though it has been decades since i have seen brian and have never laid eyes on tara, i feel that these are the kind of people who would be instant friends, had we lived closer together. they are jovial, carefree, and totally in love.....with each other and with life. they are amazing. i catch up with my aunt, uncle, and cousins and then cry my way through the vows. after that, it's party time. this couple also knows the meaning of a good time. we stay until 2 am dancing, eating, taking pictures, drinking, singing and mingling with great guests. not even an unfortunate purse snatching snafu at the very end of the night can ruin this glorious evening. with some sleuth work and a few phone calls, we manage to track down my purse and finally crash into bed around 3:30. 
sunday, october 23, 5:00 am
exhausted as we are, we have a plane to catch. we drive the return hour south to the airport, making one final pass under the golden gate bridge. i feel that i must at least attempt a picture to prove that we were really here. the best i can get is the bottom of the first suspender as we approach. and it's ridiculously dark. it's just as well. pictures couldn't do it justice anyhow. it's logged in my memory though. and maybe one day we'll be back to do it all over again. maybe it won't be foggy or dark on the day that we come. and maybe you will come with us to capture that perfect photo of this seemingly perfect place....
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